Kristy Bowen

Finding the perfect frame for your favorite photos and art can be tricky, especially if you're after budget-friendly options with character and style. While stores offer cheap frames, they’re often plain and uninspired. But with a little creativity, you can repurpose existing frames or use unique materials to craft custom designs that stand out on your walls and shelves.
We’ve rounded up a few favorites, most of which can be created with materials you may already have at home in your craft st...

Finding unique vintage and antique pieces for your home involves a lot of good luck and determination. While you can occasionally stumble across just the perfect piece at in-person venues like flea markets and thrift stores, some pieces are far more likely to be found in other, more direct secondhand venues, such as collectors and estate sales. If you lack access to some of these in-person spaces because of where you live geographically, online options make these kinds of items accessible. Yo...

Plant-based diets are some of the healthiest ways to eat, indulging fully in the wealth of the natural world to nourish and sustain. While there are many different varieties of eating that fall under the plant-based diet umbrella, such as vegetarian, pescatarian and vegan, the greater terminology includes those diets that place plant-based foods at the center, rather than just a component, of eating. Popular plant-based foods and ingredients include vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and grains....

Front doors and other entryways into your home often present a unique challenge when it comes to privacy. As they frequently feature windows, side panels, transoms, and other transparent surfaces in unique shapes, it can be difficult to know how to cover the glass. While more modern means of covering doorways like smaller curtains, blinds, shades, and window films are still popular, the gracefulness of a full floor to ceiling set of curtains has a much more dramatic look.
This European-inspir...

Fun and whimsical décor can be a great way to infuse character and personality into your home. While you can easily spend hundreds of dollars on store-bought items that help elevate your space, a more budget-friendly alternative may be supplies and materials you already have. ArtSkills' YouTube DIY allows you to create an adorable pineapple lantern using an upcycled jar, paper cutouts, and a glue gun. The result is a stunning fruity and tropical accent piece you can make for pennies.
This cut...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Finding unique ways to frame art, ephemera, or cherished photographs can be a challenge, with many more deluxe frames from retailers costing upwards of $20 each. The best frames not only showcase what's inside, but add texture and character to your walls. Instagram account TheSorryGirls has a brilliant idea for using inexpensive wooden trays as frames that add a beautiful touch to whatever you are framing. By using these budget-friendl...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
The popularity of vintage dishware varieties, patterns, and brands come in and out of fashion every few years, making certain designs very much in demand. Cabbageware, a distinctive variety of ceramic dishware that takes its inspiration from the natural world, is one that is landing in more and more kitchens. This reemergence makes sense with the rise of colorful, layered décor seen in aesthetics like maximalism and grand millennial, w...

Leather belts are one of the most common accessories you will find in your local thrift store, whether made of real animal hide or faux leather. With them so abundantly available, there are a number of cool ways to repurpose an old belt, including a fun DIY project that turns these ordinary belts into hangers for stylish and rustic outdoor lanterns powered by solar lights. These easy-to-create lanterns are a beautiful way to light up your outdoor living space in a budget-friendly way.
All you...

Rustic wreaths can be expensive to purchase from home retailers, especially the more elaborate, distinctive, and richer in material they are. These woven wreaths, which come in materials like reed, jute, sisal and other textiles, can look stunning decorated with florals and natural accents. A YouTube DIYer however, has an ingenious hack for creating your own textured rope wreath for under $10 using Dollar Tree supplies. By upcycling a Dollar Tree mop head and a metal wreath form, and adding d...

Dedicated laundry spaces are some of the most functional and busy rooms in the home, particularly for those families that have a lot of clothes and linens to clean. The best laundry rooms are well-laid out, easy to maneuver in, and have all you need in easy reach for the task at hand. Surface area can be at a premium in a functional laundry room, with lots of space needed for sorting and folding. That means there isn't much room for items that don't need to be or shouldn't be stored in the la...

Deciding on window treatments for your kitchen can be a challenge, particularly if you are looking for something innovative or unusual. Drapery, sheers, and curtain hardware can be expensive, as can other kinds of window-coverings like shades and blinds. There are, however, a number of fun viral curtain alternatives that can not only often be more budget-friendly, but also can help add additional vintage charm to your kit...

While there are many ways of adding texture and softness to a room with textiles and soft materials, doorways can often be a mixed bag. Many homes are stuck with boring, builder-grade doors, outdated flat doors, and other nondescript entry points. There are many ways to decorate plain interior doors, from cool DIY projects which add architectural interest to more temporary methods like wreaths, swags, and other decorations. If you're renting or simply don't want to make a permanent change to ...

Distinctive wall art can be one of the best ways to add personality to your home and decorate a large, empty wall. Original art, however, can often come with a high-end price tag, with even reproduction prints costing a pretty penny from some retailers. This is especially true of three-dimensional art and gorgeously textured wall décor. A video from a TikTok DIYer demonstrates how to create cool, textural wall art using a surprising element you can get on the cheap at Dollar Tree stores. With...

Crafting is a great way to pass the time, whether you're creating functional items, custom décor, or artwork. There are countless ways to get started with easy crafts at home, from online tutorials and courses to books. Not only does crafting let you express your creativity, but it also gives you the skills to make personalized gifts or even start selling your creations for extra income.
If you're wondering, "What easy crafts can I make?" or "What can I do at home when I'm bored?" you're in t...

Room dividers are a very versatile element to add to any space in your home, fulfilling a variety of functions from creating zones and blocking views to simply adding interest to a boring corner. You can often find them in thrift stores or garage sales, sold secondhand in various levels of condition. If a room divider you stumble upon or already have in your home needs some repair or a cosmetic upgrade, there are a number of amazing upcycling techniques to make it look as good as new, includi...